Wednesday, May 30, 2012

A new summer capsule collection for Banana Republic launches on June 7th...Trina Turk! It will be a Palm Springs inspired collection of swimwear, dresses, shorts, sunglasses, and accessories in colorful, playful prints. The 60-piece collection will range in price from $34.50-$150...a steal compared to her designer line, and isn't that what these collaborations are all about!

"I decided early on that the Palm Springs "cocktails by the pool" lifestyle would be our key inspiration for the colors, styles, and prints." ~ Trina Turk interview

Take a look at photos of model Coco Rocha in the ad campaign for this collection...

Trina Turk, who owns a home in Palm Springs, states that her summer uniform is a "lightweight kaftan tunic, a wide brim hat, and sunglasses". What a perfect summer collection to represent her style! Below is a glimpse of her capsule collection with Banana Republic...

A sneak peek of the collection is available for purchase on Gilt today (although many have sold out)...

My faves...available June 7th at Banana Republic stores and online...

Strapless patio dress $130 // bib necklace $70 // bracelets $45 each

Tunic dress $120

Printed sunhat $60 // zebra printed tunic top $90

Zebra printed skirt $80 // box clutch $98

I'm excited to see this collection in person. It just screams "Summer!". What are your thoughts? Will it live up to the hype that the "Mad Men" collection created?

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

It's hard to believe that Memorial Day weekend is behind us and that we are already heading into June. I hope that you had an amazing holiday with family and friends! As we hit the end of May, I realized that I still haven't posted my May product review. Well, this one is perfect for the start of summer...the Bare Minerals "Return to Radiance" kit. Many of you are probably familiar with the Bare Minerals line as the originator of mineral makeup. The mineral concept was based on creating a 100% natural product that was composed of pure minerals found in the earth that when applied to the skin as makeup would also provide skincare benefits and a natural, lightweight look and feel to your makeup.

8-piece "Return to Radiance" kit:

for a natural, illuminating glow

1) Prime Time Neutralizing Foundation PrimerWhat the product is and its claim:A mineral-infused, satin-finish makeup primer to calm skin, reduce the appearance of redness, combat rough patches, flaky dryness, the look of fine lines, excess oil, uneven texture, the appearance of enlarged pores, and help prime the face for a flawless, skin-smoothing foundation application and extended wear.

Manufacturer's suggested method of application:Apply one pump evenly over entire face and allow to dry before applying foundation.

Product results: 3.5 out of 5 rating
Ok, getting the cons out of the way...one pump provides (in my opinion) an excessive amount of product, but there is no easy way to partially pump it. Also, for me, the product created a slight dryness to my skin which I needed to counterbalance with a touch of moisturizer. This problem was eliminated after a few uses, so maybe my dry skin needed to adjust to the product. On the positive side, it reduced redness and created a more even skin texture. Additionally, and even more important for me as we head into the heat of summer, it gave my subsequent products (foundation, blush, etc.) hours of extended staying power.

2)Prime Time Primer Shadow What the product is and its claim:
A creamy, mineral-infused, waterproof, conditioning, light-reflective eyeshadow primer and eyeshadow color in one. It has an airy, lightweight texture which is perfect for oily lids, uneven skin texture, and eyeshadow creasing and fading. It can be worn alone or layered with shadow colors to maximize their intensity and staying power. Color: "Nude Glow" delivers a soft champagne shimmer.

Manufacturer's suggested method of application:Smooth directly onto eyelids using your finger or a brush. Blend with fingertip to create an airbrushed look to the shade.

Product results: 2.5 out of 5 rating
Ok, starting with negatives...In my opinion, the shimmer is a little too much for daytime wear. When worn alone, it doesn't provide much color and gives the appearance of a sheer shimmer on the eyes. On the plus side, when I layer it with various colors, it allows the shadows to stay true to their original colors and last all day without creasing or fading. If this product were available without the shimmer and a little more stand alone coverage, it would be a perfect everyday primer.

3,4)Multitasking SPF 20 Concealer with BrushWhat the product is and its claim:
Mineral based concealer to decrease the look of dark circles, blemishes, and other skin imperfections. "Summer Bisque" shade is a golden cream, for light to medium complexions. Contains SPF 20. Use it with the included maximum coverage concealer brush for full, concentrated coverage and easy application.

Manufacturer's suggested method of application:
Swirl in lid, tap off excess product, and buff on concealer with the concealer brush. Apply directly
onto areas of skin imperfections. Use a patting technique to cover
imperfections before or after applying your foundation.

Product results: 4 out of 5 ratingOk, I really have nothing negative to say about this product except that if you are looking for a concealer to specifically cover extremely heavy dark circles, this is not the best choice for that particular application. Aside from that, this product is lightweight on the skin and provides adequate coverage to problem areas. One of my favorite aspects of this product is its ability to cover blemishes while providing healing benefits at the same time. As it is a multitasking product, I found it also works well as an eyeshadow or eyeshadow base. Also, any product with an SPF 20 is a plus.

5,6)Original SPF 15 Foundation with BrushWhat the product is and its claim:
This weightless, pure mineral foundation
provides light-to-full coverage for a naturally luminous finish. It looks like a
powder, feels like a cream, and buffs on like silk for a flawless
complexion. The creamy minerals help improve the appearance of your skin over time. It comes with a click, lock, and go sifter so you can take
it anywhere without spill issues. Contains SPF 15. Use it with the included full flawless face brush. Color: Medium Tan

Manufacturer's suggested method of application:

Apply using the swirl, tap, buff method: Swirl in lid, tap off excess product, and buff on foundation with the flawless face brush.

Product results: 5 out of 5 rating

This is one of the original Bare Minerals products and I have been using it religiously since the day I started wearing foundation. I have tested other foundations out of curiosity and for comparison, but none have provided better or equal benefits as Bare Minerals. The only change I make to my foundation is the shade or level of coverage. Now that we are moving into summer, I am currently wearing the medium tan from this kit. (I usually wear medium beige during the winter months). I start with one light layer and apply additional layers depending on the level of coverage desired. The result is a flawless, luminous look with a no makeup wearing feeling. A little goes a long way...one container will last well over a year and there is no expiration on the product (thank you pure minerals!). I could be a spokesperson for this product!

7)Ready BlushWhat the product is and its claim: Unlike the traditional loose mineral blushes from Bare Minerals, this blush is in a pressed format with SeaNutritive Mineral complex (sea minerals and antioxidants) which provides a silky long-wearing, water-resistant product with skin-nourishing benefits. This is a more convenient on-the-go format than the traditional Bare Minerals blushes. Color: "The Natural High" delivers a golden petal pink hue with buildable color.Manufacturer's suggested method of application:
Apply product from apples of cheeks to hairline using either the included flawless face blush or the travel size brush in the compact.

Product results: 5 out of 5 rating
Everything about this product is amazing! The color is perfect for medium skin tones, especially for summer. It provides a peachy pink glow to my skin with staying power. Of course I also like knowing it is providing skincare benefits at the same time. Unlike my other Bare Minerals blushes, I like the convenient "no mess" of this new format.

Product results: 4 out of 5 rating
The one drawback, which often is the case with lipglosses, is the somewhat sticky feeling. The color is gorgeous and coordinates perfectly with the blush. Aside from the slight stickiness, I consider the hydrating factor and staying power to be satisfactory.

So there you have it...May's product review! The one product that I strongly recommend is the Bare Minerals Foundation. If you have never tried Bare Minerals foundation because you never heard of it or you thought it wouldn't provide sufficient coverage, I strongly urge you to give it a try. You may become a Bare Minerals girl too!*
* Opinions are solely my own.

Friday, May 25, 2012

When you think about the inspiration for your posts, what comes to mind? Sometimes I have an idea that materializes into a post over a period of time, and sometimes, like today, it's a spontaneous thought (while in the shower) that immediately hits the blog. Planning my Memorial Day weekend beach wardrobe...

My go-to swimwear piece has always been the halter or triangle style bikini. I find it to be the most flattering for my body type. What style do you prefer?

When putting together a beach wardrobe, consider bringing the colorblocking and mixed prints trends of the season into your beach wardrobe by mixing tops and bottoms to create new looks. Try a neon pink top with a red bottom. How about a blue top with a tribal print bottom similar to the Bebe shorts shown above? Or try mixing a print top with a different print bottom of a bikini shown above. Options are endless. After that, you get to incorporate the colorblocking and print mixing trends into coverups, footwear, and hats. Yay!

Well, I may not be heading to the Amalfi coast or Bora Bora this weekend, but a weekend here at the beach on Galveston Island, Texas still screams "BEACH WARDROBE"!

Thursday, May 24, 2012

With the return of summer, it is the perfect time to amp up the lucite. As seen on the Spring 2012 runways on bags, shoes, jewelry, and even nails, it is back in full force. Its translucent to transparent quality gives it an open, airy feel which feels just right for summer. Lucite has come a long way from the 80's/90's "cheap stripper heels" and dollar store bracelets. Not only in clear, but it looks classy in color accessories as well. In addition to traditional lucite, soft sided transparent PVC is in the spotlight. One of the advantages of lucite is the ability to incorporate it into any outfit due to its clean look. It's just a matter of how dainty or bold of a statement that you are looking to make.